Containers



7 March 1, 1966 H. c. FRENCH ETAL 3,237,797

CONTAINERS Filed April 27, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS ATTORNEYS March 1, 1966 H. c. FRENCH ETAL 3,237,797

CONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 27, 1961 ATTORNEY5 CONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

Filed April 27, 1961 ATTORNEYS) March 1, 1966 H. c. FRENCH ETAL 3,237,797

CONTAINERS Filed April 27, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 a. 7 v a ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,237,797 CONTAINERS Henry C. French and Neil F. Wender, Knoxville, Tenn., assignors to Dempster Brothers, Inc., Knoxville, Team, a corporation of Tennessee Filed Apr. 27, 1961, Ser. No. 106,002 2 Claims. ((11. 214302) This invention relates to improvements in containers of the character adapted for use in collecting and transporting materials.

One satisfactory way of handling loose material is to provide containers of suitable size into which the material can be deposited. In the collection of refuse, for example, several containers may be placed at convenient locations and emptied from time to time as they are filled. Such containers may be provided with a bottom discharge door which opens for dumping the contents from the container. Normally the container is filled while sitting on the ground or other supporting surface, and the material is placed in the container through doors provided for this purpose in the upper portion of the container.

After the container is full it may be lifted onto a vehicle by means of a hoisting apparatus on the vehicle, and then transported to a point where the contents of the container are dumped. The empty container is then returned to the same location or to a new location for refilling.

The bottom discharge door provided on such containers is hinged to the body of the container so that it may swing downwardly therefrom. When the container is resting upon the ground, the bottom door is closed and fits snugly with the bottom portion of the container to provide a closure therefor.

Hoisting apparatus for handling this type of bottom discharge container is disclosed in prior patents; for example, Patent No. 2,281,183, issued April 28, 1942, and Patent No. 2,369,722, issued February 20, 1945.

In the operation of this type of hoisting apparatus for lifting a bottom discharge container onto a vehicle, the container is picked up in a manner whereby the bottom door is held closed during the transporting of the container to the dumping location. When it is desired to dump the contents from the container, the body of the container is held in an elevated position and the bottom door is allowed to swing downwardly thereby opening the bottom portion of the body so that the material is free to fiow from the container.

Such hoisting apparatus used for handling bottom discharge containers inherently provides that the bottom door will be held firmly closed when the container is lifted onto or lowered from the transporting vehicle. When such containers are resting upon the ground or other supporting surface, the body portion of the container fits snugly over the bottom door and the weight of the body portion prevents an inadvertant opening of the bottom portion of the container.

Other types of equipment used in handling containers which hold loose material, such as trash for example, are referred to generally as front end loaders or front end loading equipment. These types of hoisting equipment usually employ a pair of lifting arms which are pivotally connected to the transporting vehicle and extended to the front of the vehicle where a connection is established between the lifting arms andthe container. One such type of front end loading equipment is shown, for example, in Patent No. 2,900,096, issued August 18, 1959, wherein the front end loading equipment includes, in addition to the pair of lifting arms, a front torque tube extending across the vehicle and connecting the lifting arms, and a pair of fork arms mounted on the torque tube and serving to "ice establish a detachable connection between the container and the lifting arms.

In this type of front end loading equipment the fork arms extend along the outside of the container and fit into pockets at the ends of the container provided for receiving the fork arms. Actuation of the lifting arms and the fork arms by suitable power means is effected in order to lift the container over the cab of the vehicle to a position above the body of the vehicle so that the contents of the container may be dumped through a hopper into the body. The empty container may thereafter be swung back to a position on the ground in front of the vehicle.

When containers are emptied by such front end loading equipment, it is not necessary to transport the containers themselves to a distant location for dumping. A vehicle equipped with this type of front end loading equipment and with a suitable body is driven from point to point where various containers are located. One after another the full containers may be emptied into the body of the vehicle, and once the body is full, then the vehicle can make a trip to the dumping area and the contents emptied from the body. In this manner, it is not necessary to remove the containers from the filling location, and the number of trips which the vehicle must make to the dumping location can be minimized.

The containers used in connection with front end loading equipment generally include a bottom which is integral with or permanently connected to the body portion of the container. Suitable types of openings are provided at or near the top portion of the body of the container through which material may be placed in the container.

In the use of containers of the type which are employed with front end loading equipment it is not necessary that the bottom of the containers be provided with a bottom door. In fact, it is absolutely essential that during the dumping operation of these containers, the bottom portion of the containers remain fixed or closed. When the lifting arms of the front end loading equipment swing a container upwardly, the material within the container rests on the bottom of the container. Therefore, it is essential that a suitably strong bottom be provided for such containers.

The two types of containers described, that is, containers with a bottom door, and containers with a fixed bottom, have in the past been usable only with the two different types of hoisting apparatus which have been described. In addition to having the different types of construction at the bottom portion of the containers, these two types of containers have been provided with different types of means whereby they could be accommodated by either type of hoisting apparatus.

It is important to note in this connection that the two types of containers previously described, and the two types of hoisting apparatus, have become very successful in the past. Consequently, there are in existance a large number of both types of containers and a large number of both types of equipment used for hoisting these containers. Consequently, it is necessary, when considering the problem of providing a container which can be accommodated by both types of hoisting apparatus, that the hoisting apparatus itself not be modified because it is necessary that such hoisting apparatus still be available for use in connection with the two different types of containers.

Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide a container which can be used with various types of hoisting apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which can be attached to containers so that the containers can be used with front end loading equipment.

Another object of this invention is to provide latch assemblies by which the drop bottom doors of containers may be held closed so that such containers may be used with front end loading equipment.

Various of these objects may be accomplished according to certain embodiments of this invention by providing on a bottom discharge container a latch device by which the bottom door can be held shut securely and safely during the time that the container is used in connection with front end loading equipment.

In one embodiment of this invention a sliding sleeve structure is mounted on opposite ends of the container. The sliding sleeves can be moved to one position wherein the sleeves are out of the way of members of the hoisting apparatus used in employing the bottom door of the container. In connection with this embodiment, the latch devices are not employed so as to latch closed the bottom door.

The sliding sleeves may be moved to another position so as to convert the containers for use with front end loading equipment. In this event, the latch devices are employed to hold shut the bottom doors of the containers, and the sleeves may receive the fork arms of the front end loading equipment.

These embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a vehicle equipped with hoisting apparatus for use with containers which have a bottom door, and shows in full lines and broken lines a container embodying certain aspects of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a vehicle equipped with front end loading equipment, and shows in connection therewith the container illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation view of a latch device used in connection with a bottom door;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view corresponding to FIG. 3 showing portions of the container in cross section;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side elevation view of a modified latch device used in connection with a bottom door;

FIG. 6 is an elevation view corresponding to FIG. 5 showing portions of the container in cross section;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side elevation view of a sliding sleeve assembly;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 88 in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along lines 9-9 in FIG. 7.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 there is illustrated a container 10 of the type having a bottom door 12 hinged, or otherwise pivotally connected at 14 to the body of the container. This type of bottom discharge container 10 is adapted for use with any form of hoisting apparatus suitable for accommodating such drop bottom containers. This hoisting apparatus might include either a truck mounted hoisting unit, as shown in Patent No. 2,281,183, issued April 28, 1942; a self-propelled vehicle, as shown in Patent No. 2,751,100, issued June 19, 1956; a hoisting unit of the character shown in Patent No. Re. 23,546, issued September 9, 1952; or a fork lift type of hoisting unit. In FIG. 1, the container 10 is illustrated in connection with one form of hoisting unit, but it will be understood that the container 10 may be used with any other form of hoisting apparatus capable of handling bottom discharge containers.

The form of hoisting apparatus 19 shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on a self-propelled vehicle 15 having a chassis indicated generally by the numeral 1 6. A subframe assembly 18 is mounted on the chassis 16 and includes a bucket rest 20 for supporting the container 10, which as illustrated in FIG. 1, is located at the rear end of the chassis 16. The container 10 is adapted to be pulled upon and held against a carriage assembly 22 which is capable of movement forwardly and backwardly relative to the chassis 16, as described in detail in Patent No. 2,281,183. A pair of booms 23 are located above the chassis 16 and have swinging movement in a vertical direction.

The bottom door 12 of the container 10 is hinged at 14 to a front wall 24 at the bottom of the body portion of the container. The container 10 is provided with a rear wall 25 and opposed end walls 26 having notches 28 therein at the bottom for receiving upwardly extending triangular-shaped end plates 31) of the bottom door 12. These end plates 30 are shaped to fit within the notches 2-8 when the bottom door 12 is closed.

The end plates 30 have fixed thereto lifting pins or lugs 32 which protrude outwardly from the end plates 30 for connection by a chain 34 or other type of flexible member of the hoisting apparatus 19. The chains 34 are connected to the upwardly extending ends of the booms 23. When the free ends of the chains 34 are connected with the lifting pins 32, and when the booms 23 are swung upwardly, the container 10 is hoisted from the ground onto the lifting mechanism 19.

The opening and dumping operation of the container 10 is accomplished by holding the body portion of the container 10 suspended on the carriage assembly 22 by means of a hook on the carriage assembly 22, which hook engages a bail on the front wall 24 of the container 10. The hook and the bail are illustrated and described in detail in Patent No. 2,729,496, issued January 3, 1956. When the body portion of the container 10 is held suspended on the carriage assembly 22, the booms 23 may be lowered, thereby allowing the bottom door 12 to swing downwardly, as illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 1.

The servicing of a full container 10 by a vehicle 15 equipped with the hoisting apparatus 19 is carried out as follows. The vehicle 15 is backed up to the container 10 as the container rests upon the ground or other supporting surface. The chains 34 are connected with the lifting pins 32 on the end plates 30, and the hoisting apparatus 19 is actuated to lift the container 10 onto the vehicle chassis 16. The container 10 is then transported to a dumping location where the hoisting apparatus 19 is actuated to open the bottom door 12 in order to allow the contents of the container 10 to fall out.

The hoisting apparatus 19 is then actuated to close the bottom door 12, and the empty container 10 may be returned to the same location or transported to a new location for refilling. Then the container 10 is lowered onto the ground and the chains 34 disconnected so that the vehicle 15 may be employed to service other containers in a similar manner.

In FIG. 2 there is illustrated one type of front end loading equipment which may be employed to empty the contents of the container 10. It is customary to use a vehicle of the character generally indicated by the reference numeral 40 which is self-propelled under the control of an operator located within a cab 42.

A body 44 is provided on the vehicle chassis behind the cab 42 and may be of any suitable type for receiving the particular material to be handled, and may be provided with packer mechanism for compressing the material, if this is desired. The top portion of the front of the body 44 is provided with a filling opening or hopper 46 through which material may be dumped into the body 44. The character of the body otherwise may be varied as desired.

The front end loading equipment or hoisting apparatus used in connection with the vehicle 40 is indicated in FIG. 2 by numeral 50 and includes a pair of lifting arms 52 spaced apart a distance corresponding substantially with the width of the cab 42. The lifting arms 52 may be of gooseneck shape or inverted U-shape, for example, so as to extend over the top and downwardly in front and back of the cab 42, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

At the back of the cab 42 the lower ends of the lifting arms 52 are fixed on a rear, horizontally extending torque tube or rod 54 which extends substantially from one side of the vehicle 40 to the other. The torque tube 54 is journaled in bearing boxes which are fixably mounted on the vehicle chassis. In this manner the lifting arms 52 are pivotally mounted to the vehicle 40. Lever arms 56 are fixed on the torque tube 54 and extend downwardly therefrom. The free ends of the lever arms 56 are pivotally connected at 58 to suitable power devices 60, such as a conventional hydraulically actuated cylinder and piston devices, which in turn are mounted on the vehicle chassis.

At the front of the vehicle 40 the lifting arms 52 are connected by a horizontally extending front torque tube or rod 62 which is journaled in bearing boxes secured to the forward end of the lifting arms 52. On each outside end of the torque tube 62 there is fixed a pair of lever arms 64. A power device 66, such as a conventional hydraulically actuated cylinder and piston device, is mounted on each of the lifting arms 52 by means of a bracket 68 so that the power device 66 extends along the corresponding arm 52. The free end of a piston rod 70 of the power device 66 is connected to the free end of the corresponding lever arm 64. A pair of fork arms 72 are rigidly mounted near opposite ends of the torque tube 62 and have attached to their free ends a tow plate 74.

On opposite end walls 26 of the container there is securely attached a sleeve assembly 80. Each of the sleeve assemblies 80 receives therein one of the fork arms 72 of the lifting mechanism 50. The sleeve assemblies 80 will be described in detail below.

The hoisting apparatus 50 is operated as follows in order to dump the contents of the container 10 into the body 44. The power device 66 may be actuated under the force of hydraulic pressure in order to rotate the lever arms 64 which in turn rotate the torque tube 62 so as to properly align the fork arms 72 for entrance into the sleeve assemblies 80. The lifting arms 52 may be pivoted about the axis of the rear torque tube 54 by operation of the power devices 60. In order to establish a connection between the lifting mechanism 50 and the container 10 while it is on the ground or other supporting surface in front of the vehicle 40, the vehicle is manuevered into the proper position and then the power devices 60 and 66 are operated so that the fork arms 72 are at the proper angle with respect to the sleeve assemblies 80 as to effect connection between the fork arm 72 and the sleeve assemblies 80.

The power devices 60 are operated further to swing the lifting arms 52 upwardly whereby the container 10 is hoisted over the cab 42 and into dumping position at the top and front of the body 44. Simultaneously, the fork arms 72 may be actuated by the power devices 66 to rotate slightly in a counterclockwise direction, with reference to FIG. 2, so that the container 10 may be kept tilted slightly toward the vehicle but substantially upright during the swinging movement above the body 44. Once the container 10 is above the hopper 46 the fork arms 72 may be actuated to rotate in a clockwise direction far enough so that the container 10 is inverted to dump the contents thereof through the hopper 46 and into the body 44.

After the contents of the container 10 are dumped in this manner, the power devices 66 may be actuated to rotate the fork arms 72 so that the container 10 will be returned to a generally upright position. The lifting arms 52 then may be lowered by proper actuation of the power devices 60 to lower the container 10 to the ground in front of the vehicle 40.

As pointed out previously, the containers employed with the hoisting apparatus 19, illustrated in FIG. 1, are provided with bottom doors. When the body portions of such containers are suspended above the ground, these bottom doors are free to swing downwardly. When it is desirous to use these containers with the hoisting apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2, for example, it is necessary that the bottom doors of the containers be held closed, but it is also necessary that the bottom doors be ready for use again with the hoisting apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 there is illustrated in detail a latch device which may be employed to hold closed, in a secure manner, the bottom door of the container 10 or the container 84, as well as other types of containers which may be used in connection with the front end loading equipment 50. One such latch device preferably should be located on each opposite end wall 26 of the container 10.

The latch device 100 includes a pair of plate members 102 securely fixed in opposed relationship to the end wall 26 of the container 10, for example. Each plate 102 is provided with an offset portion 104 whereby the two plates are spaced apart a suitable distance so as to receive therebetween an edge portion of upwardly extending end plate 30 of the bottom door 12.

The free ends of the plates 102 are provided with angled edge portions which extend away from one another. These angled portions 106 serve to guide the edge of the end plate 30 into the space between the offset portions 104. The plates 102 are provided with aligned holes 108, and the edge portion of the end plate 30 is provided with a similar hole 110. The holes 108 and 110 are aligned when the bottom door 12 is closed with respect to the body portion of the container 10.

A pin member or bolt 114 of suitable size is provided for insertion through the holes 108 and 110 when these holes are aligned. The pin 114 is of suitable strength to hold the bottom door closed, and is provided with a head 116 to which is connected a chain 113 or similar flexible member. The chain 118, in turn, is attached to the end wall 26 of the container 10 and is of suitable length so that the pin member 114 may be inserted and removed easily from the holes 108 and 110.

Retaining members 120 may be provided on the free end of the pin member 114 and, for example, may include balls which are pushed away radially from the pin member by springs. Such balls can be moved radially inwardly so that the pin member 114 can be pushed or pulled easily through the holes 108 and 110, yet when the pin member 114 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 4, the balls serve to prevent the pin member 114 from inadvertently falling out of the holes 103 and 110.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 there is illustrated a modified form of latch device 124 which may be used to hold closed the bottom door 12 of the container 10. The latch device 124 includes a pair of angle members 126 and 127. The angle member 126 has a leg extending along the outside face of the end wall 26, and the angle member 127 has a leg extending along the outside face of the end plate 30 of the bottom door 12. The angle member 126 has a leg 128 which protrudes away from the end wall 26, and the angle member 127 has a similar leg 129 which protrudes away from the end plate 30. When the bottom door 12 is closed, the legs 128 and 129 are generally parallel, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. Each of these legs 128 and 129 is provided with a hole 130 which become aligned when the bottom door 12 is closed.

A pin or bolt 132 is provided for insertion through the holes 130. The pin 132 is provided with a head 134 which prevents the pin 132 from passing all the Way through the holes 130. Opposite ends of a chain 136 are fastened to the pin 132 and to the end wall 26 of the container 10. The chain 136 is of suitable length so that the pin 132 can be inserted through or removed from the holes 130.

The pin 132 is provided with a suitably large rectangular-shaped hole 138 therethrough adjacent its free end. A wedge-shaped keeper 140' is adapted to be inserted through or removed from the hole 138. A chain 142 is fastened at one end to the keeper 140 and may be connected at its other end to a link of the chain 136.

After the bottom door 12 has been closed so that the legs 128 and 129 become parallel and the holes 131) become aligned, the pin 132 can be inserted through the holes 130 and the keeper 140 may be wedged into the rectangular-shaped hole 138 between the pin 132 and the leg 129. In this manner the head 134, the keeper 140 and the pin member 132 cooperate to keep the bottom door 12 closed.

In FIGS. 7-9 there is illustrated the sleeve assembly 80 which has been referred to previously. One such sleeve assembly is provided on each opposite end wall 26 of the container 10, and as described previously, as adapted to receive therein a fork arm 72 of the hoisting apparatus 51 Each sleeve assembly 80 includes a hollow sleeve memher 150 which may be formed of a channel member and a plate member, for example, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. The sleeve member 150 provides an opening extending longitudinally therethrough for unobstructed entrance of a fork arm 72. A suitable number of U- shaped braces 152 are fixed to the end wall 26 of the container 10, as by welding, and each brace may be strengthened by gussets 154 as necessary. The sleeve member 150 fits loosely between the U-shaped braces 152 and the end wall 26 of the container and may slide lengthwise therebetween. Such lengthwise movement is limited by collars 156 provided at each end of the sleeve member 150.

In FIG. 1 the sleeve member 150 is shown in a position wherein it has been moved to its extreme position towards the rear of the container 10. In FIG. 2, the sleeve member 150 is shown in a position wherein it has been moved to its extreme position towards the front or the center of the container 10.

In order to hold the sleeve member 150 in either one of its extreme positions, a position adjuster 160 is provided. The position adjuster 160 is mounted on the end wall 26 of the container 10 by means of an angle member 162 and includes a short sleeve 164 through which extends a plunger 166. An enlarged head portion 168 of the plunger 166 extends downwardly and outwardly of the sleeve 164. Within the sleeve 164 a spring 170 bears on the enlarged head portion 168 and tends to force the head portion 168 to its outwardly extended position.

A ring 172 which is larger in diameter than the sleeve 164 is connected to the upper end of the plunger 166 and extends upwardly above the sleeve 164 so as to be in a position to be grasped. Also, the ring 172 serves to prevent the plunger 166 from sliding out of the sleeve 164 due to the action of the spring 170.

The head portion 168 of the plunger 166 is adapted to fit into either one of two holes 176 or 178 located in the top portion of the sliding sleeve member 150. The holes 176 and 178 are spaced apart a suitable distance longitudinally with respect to the sleeve member 150' so that when the sleeve member 150 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 1 the hole 178 will be aligned with the head portion 168 of the position adjuster 160, and when the sleeve member 150 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 2, the hole 176 will be aligned with the head portion 168.

The top edge of the short sleeve 164 is provided with a shallow notch 180. The ring 172 may be grasped and pulled upwardly thereby pulling the plunger 166 and the head portion 168 upwardly and out of either one of the holes 176 or 178. Then the ring 172 may be twisted approximately 90 degrees in either rotational direction and released so that the spring 170 will pull the ring 172 downwardly and into the notch 180. When this is done, the head portion 168 is above the sleeve member 150 and the sleeve may be adjusted easily to either one of its extreme positions without interfence from the head portion 168. After the ring 172 is turned to the position 8 illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 9, the lower part of the ring fits into deep notches in the top edge of the sleeve 164 so that the head portion 168 may fit into either one of the holes 176 or 178.

When it is desired to use the container 10 with the hoisting apparatus 19 illustrated in FIG. 1, the sleeve member 150 of the sleeve assembly can be moved to its rearward position as illustrated in FIG. 1 and held in this position by the adjuster 160. The sleeve member 150 is then out of the way of the chains 34 of the hoisting apparatus 19. The chains 34 then can be connected easily to the lifting pins 32 and they are free to move with respect to the container 10 without interference from the sleeve member 150.

On the other hand, when it is desired to use the container 10 in connection with the hoisting apparatus 50 illustrated in FIG. 2, the sleeve member 150 of the sleeve assembly 80 can be moved to its forward position as illustrated in FIG. 2 and held there by the adjuster 160. When the sleeve 150 is in its forward position it is adjacent the center of the container 10. This creates a balanced condition when the fork arms 72 of the lifting apparatus 50 are inserted in the sleeve members 158 and employed to hoist the container 10 above the vehicle 49. The fork arms 72 thereby apply their lifting force at a point suitably close to the center of the container 10.

Either the latch device or the latch device 124 can be employed in connection with the container 10 or the container 84, or in connection with any other type of container having a bottom door. These latch devices may be used to hold closed the bottom door when the container 10, for example, is used in connection with the hoisting apparatus 50. On the other hand, when it is desired to use the container 10 with the type of hoisting apparatus 19 illustrated in FIG. 1, the latch device 100 or 124 can be easily adjusted so as to allow the bottom door 12 to open freely as necessary.

The slidable sleeve assemblies 80 may be employed in connection with the relatively large size containers 10 or with small size containers as well. These sleeve as semblies 80 are readily adjustable so that the containers may be used with either the hoisting apparatus 19 shown in FIG. 1, or with the front end loading equipment 50 shown in FIG. 2.

By using either the U-shaped brackets 88 or the sleeve assembly 80 in connection with a latch device such as the latch device 100 or 124, the bottom discharge containers 10 can be used with a variety of types of hoisting apparatus, whereby in the past, such bottom discharge containers were limited for use only with a specific type of hoisting apparatus.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in certain embodiments, it is recognized that other variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for use with a container having a door hinged to the container and serving as a bottom for the container, said apparatus including a plurality of brackets having openings therein, a sleeve extending through the openings in the brackets and slidable lengthwise relative to the brackets, and means for releasably securing the sleeve in predetermined positions relative to the brackets.

2. A container for use with a hoisting device comprising a body portion having opposite end walls and a bottom door movable to open position to discharge the contents therefrom, said bottom door having upturned end portions substantially coplanar with said end walls, lifting pins on said end portions for engagement by apparatus for lifting the container, 21 pluraliw of brackets on each of said end walls, said brackets being in substantial axial alignment, a sleeve adapted for receiving a fork on hoisting apparatus, said sleeve extending slid- 0 able through the brackets on each end Wall, means for releasably securing the sleeve at predetermined axial positions in the brackets, and means for locking the door closed, whereby the container is lifted and emptied selectively by hoisting apparatus connecting with the lifting pins or by the sleeves on each end wall.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Lambert 2143 17 Dempster 214-317 Dempster et a1 214-317 Dempster et a1 214302 Dempster et al 214-302 Dempster et a1 214317 Jones 214302 GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner. HUGO 0. SCHULZ, MORRIS TEMIN, Examiners. 

2. A CONTAINER FOR USE WITH A HOISTING DEVICE COMPRISING A BODY PORTION HAVING OPPOSITE END WALLS AND A BOTTOM DOOR MOVABLE TO OPEN POSITION TO DISCHARGE THE CONTENTS THEREFROM, SAID BOTTOM DOOR HAVING UPTURNED END PORTIONS SUBSTANTIALLY COPLANAR WITH SAID END WALLS, LIFTING PINS ON SAID END PORTIONS FOR ENGAGEMENT BY APPARATUS FOR LIFTING THE CONTAINER, A PLURALITY OF BRACKETS ON EACH OF SAID END WALLS, SAID BRACKETS BEING IN SUBSTANTIAL AXIAL ALIGNMENT, A SLEEVE ADAPTED FOR RECEIVING A FORK ON HOISTING APPARTUS, SAID SLEEVE EXTENDING SLIDABLE THROUGH THE BRACKETS ON EACH END WALL, MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING THE SLEEVE AT PREDETERMINED AXIAL POSITIONS IN THE BRACKETS, AND MEANS FOR LOCKING THE DOOR CLOSED, WHEREBY THE CONTAINER IS LIFTED AND EMPTIED SELECTIVELY BY HOISTING APPARATUS CONNECTING WITH THE LIFTING PINS OR BY THE SLEEVES ON EACH END WALL. 